46 TRANSACTIONS AT THE ROYAL VETERINARY 
beginning as incurable : 16 died from acute disease, 3 of chronic 
disease, 4 under surgical operations, and 7 of nervous complaints. 
About 1 patient out of 10 was lost. 
There were brought for consultation in the morning 2129 
horses, 10 cattle, 41 dogs, and 2 pigs, constituting a total of 
2182 animals. 
Among the horses were some that had been recently bought, 
and were brought by their proprietors to be examined as to their 
soundness. Others, affected by external or internal diseases, 
were examined by the Professor, and then placed under the care 
of the students of the 4th year. The horses that were sent for 
operations of various kinds amounted to 252. 
To the students of the 4th year were also confided the care of 
the out-door patients. They amounted to 280 sheep, 104 pigs, 
8 cows, and 94 horses. Thus, in the course of the year there 
came under the care of the Professor and the pupils 3534 animals 
of one species or another. Of these 709 were under the care of 
the students of the last year. The infirmaries that were built in 
June received many more patients than could otherwise have 
been provided for, and increased the number to 6459. 
Diseases of the foot have been of very common occurrence 
among the horses sent to the infirmary, on many of whom painful 
and serious operations were performed before a cure could be 
effected. 
With the double view of preventing or arresting caries of the 
cervical bones, whether in diseases of the withers or the poll, 
many means have been tried. Among the agents that have 
been the most successful, is the rectified empyreumatic oil, recti- 
fied or mixed with essence of peppermint. The bathing of the 
carious part with this irritant and antiseptic agent has been 
sometimes successful. 
Merino sheep, and others crossed with them, are often attacked 
by a disease of the hoof, which by the suffering it occasions, 
prevents the growth and the condition of the sheep, and the 
growth of the wool. It is recognized by the name of the rot, 
and is justly regarded as a serious disease. 
Among the means of cure a solution of quick lime has been 
recommended, into which the foot is to be plunged, after the dis- 
eased parts have been removed by the knife. This application, 
although generally successful, requires to be applied for a consi- 
derable time in order to effect a perfect cure. 
In the course of last May, an agriculturist, in order to abridge 
the time usually employed in the cure of foot-rot, after having 
pared away the detached parts of the horn, made the sheep, 
morning and night, pass through some troughs placed at the en- 
